Local History

Local History

Sigma Nu Fraternity has been a tradition at the University of Tennessee since 1921 and thrives upon the ideals of Love, Honor and Truth. At UT, the brothers of Sigma Nu are active on campus, participating in intramurals, university events, and service with the Knoxville community, all while having active social lives and thriving in the classroom. Over 1,800 young men have been initiated into the Epsilon Eta chapter of Sigma Nu.

Sigma Nu Fraternity officially began on January 1, 1869 when three honorable cadets at the Virginia Military Institute joined together in the spirit of brotherhood to oppose the hazing they witnessed at VMI. With 180+ active chapters between the United States, men of honor today are continuously being shaped into the leaders of tomorrow. Our brotherhood still strives to uphold the same ideals of love, truth, and honor set forth by our founders.

Sigma Nu stays active on the campus. Athletically, the Epsilon Eta chapter actively participates in all intramural events offer by UT. Socially, the chapter offers a strong social calendar and traditionally joins with a sorority in large campus events such as Homecoming, All-Sing and Carnicus. Academically, the chapter excels and offers financial discounts to new candidates who display a commitment to academic excellence.

Today the Epsilon Eta chapter of Sigma Nu is one of the fastest growing fraternities at the University of Tennessee. We encourage you to become a part of a brotherhood that values Love, Honor and Truth.

MORE LOCAL HISTORY for this Chapter ~ 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's. These PDF's contain articles from the period along with informative benchmarks documenting Sigma Nu's past.

The Plaque

By Lynn Sorrell (E.H. #677)

The story of the plaque begins at 900 S. 17th Street (site of the current Carousel Theatre beside Clarence Brown Theatre). I was house manager in 1962-63. That was far more work than any other job I had in the fraternity. Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Zeta Beta Tau and Lambda Chi Alpha were all on the same block and had bronze plaques with their Greek letters on it. Somehow, it came up at a chapter meeting that we needed a plaque too. We priced the ones from nationals and they were beyond our means. We were cheap and poor in those days. David Lee, initiated circa 1961, was from Lenoir City and his Dad ran a foundry in the town. Dave talked his Dad into forging us a bronze plaque, but the foundry needed a drawing. I drew it up, not knowing the specific gravity of the bronze alloy to be used for calculating the total weight. Well, I overdid it. I could have drawn it up with about half the thickness and it still would have worked. It's about two inches think on the sides and one inch would have done it. We attached it to the house at 900 17th in the fall of 1963. It took four men to lift it into place and substantial bolts to attach it. The plaque stayed until the original house at 1824 Fraternity Park was built in 1966-67. The plaque was removed from its second house when the original 1824 Fraternity Park house was demolished and is now proudly displayed on its third Sigma Nu house, the new fraternity house at 1824 Fraternity Park.

Man Of The Year Award
Epsilon Eta, Sigma Nu Chapter

Each year the brothers of Epsilon Eta select one bother as Man of the Year. The award goes to the brother who has served the chapter with distinction during the academic year and lived the ideals of Love, Honor and Truth.

Past Commanders
Epsilon Eta, Sigma Nu Fraturnity

The following list of Past Commanders was complied from information obtained from Sigma Nu Headquarters, reviewing The Volunteer Yearbook and old chapter composites on file with the chapter.

The following brothers served as Commander from 1921 to 1949 —

Claude C. Wilson | Howard H. Baker | Robert R. Dodson | Emmett Hoge | George E. Oldham Jr. | Julius H. Bayer, Jr. | Edward J. Young, Jr. | William P. Ridley, Jr. | John B. Link, Jr. | Joseph R. Gracy | Col. William M. Slayden, II | Ward M. Burleson | George E. Paullus, Jr. | Frank H. Snipes, Jr. | William C. Jacobs, Jr. | Jack Williams | Jack Williams | Ernest M. Kenny | William O. Mynatt | James S. Little | Julian P. Hinton | Benjamin C. Young | Earl O. Williams | James W. Fly | Dan Thompson | Paul A. Hughes | Joseph E. Tate, Jr. | Paul O. Dore, Jr. | Thomas C. Prince, Jr. | Joe L. Lay | Richard W. Dell | Joe Mansfield